USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 8
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Voted and past
per ord: J LYNDON Cler
Read and Concurred wth per ord! THOS WARD Secretary.
SECRETARY WILLARD TO THOMAS WARD.3
BOSTON December 18th 1749. Sir.
Your Letter of the 21st September came to my Hands soon after the Date, together with the Petition of James Mussey and the Order of your Governmt upon it.4 You ask me to lay the Papers before the General Court of this Province, which then stood prorogued to the 22ª Day of November, and your Assembly having appointed so short a Day as the 9th of October for the Commissioners of both Govern- ments to meet together to run the Line, it was not possible there should be a Compliance on the Part of this Government. I forgot to lay your Letter be- fore the Court at the beginning of the Sessions, nor had I ever communicated the Contents of it to any of the Members, otherwise you would have receiv'd
1 Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 262.
3 Secretary for Rhode Island.
2 Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 269.
4 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 274.
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an Answer before this Time; It was meer forget- fulness that caus'd this neglect, And I hope it will the more readily be excus'd, as the Day propos'd by you for running the Line had been pass'd Six Weeks before the General Court of this Province could meet : As soon as I laid your Letter before the Court, vizt on the 14th Inst they appointed a Com- mittee to consider what was proper to be done, and the next Day the Committee reported, That it was their Opinion your Proposal should be complyed with, so far as in the Nature of it is practicable, which Report has been accepted; And I am now directed to inform you that the General Court are always dis- posed to do every Thing in their Power to preserve and establish a good Harmony with the Neighbour- ing Governments, and look upon all Agreements made with them for the Settlement of their Bounda- ries to be sacred and inviolable, and as often as shall be convenient are willing to renew and re-establish all Stations or Marks to prevent any uncertainty or Doubt concerning the same; and had they known your proposal a sufficient Time before the Day ap- pointed by you for running the Line, they would have appointed Commissioners to join with yours ; And now they have done all that is possible for them to do, and have appointed John Chandler Joseph Dwight and John Otis Esq's with full Power to Join with the Commissioners already appointed, or such others as may hereafter be appointed by the Govern- ment of Rhode Island with full Power to run and renew the Southern Boundary Line according to the Settlement of said Line by both Governments made
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
and agreed to the 19th January 1740 the first Meet- ing of said Commissioners to be at the House of in Wrentham on the Day of next with Power to agree upon any other Time or Place for any future Meetings, if they shall be found neces- sary. And I am to desire your Answer thereto ac- cordingly.1
I am Sir Your very humble Servant
J. WILLARD. Secry
P S. The Commissioners for this Governm! above- mentioned being just now appointed, have had no Oportunity of determining upon the Time and Place of Meeting; of which I shall inform you by the first Conveyance.
To THOMAS WARD Esq Secretary of the Colony of Rhode Island At Newport.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND. LONDON Ist month or March 17th 1782
To the Gov. and Compa of Rhode Island &ca
I wrote my last to Gov: Green of the 16th Ultº whereto I refer: Since which the Board of Trade have made their Report to the Lords of the Trea- sury on the Several Colony Acco's of Expence, on the designed Canada Expedition which being liqui-
1 See Col. Rec. of R .. I, V. 281. The Rhode Island commissioners had already been over the line, but voted, in February, 1750, that commissioners appointed by the governor should run the line in company with the Massachusetts commissioners.
VOL. II.
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dated and adjusted, have carried the respective Total Sums into Parliam! whereof I have obtained an ab- stracted Copy of the whole which comes inclosed, but of New Jersey Rhode Island 1 and Connecticut, I have got a more perticular Acco! as appears therein : wherein I find they were bent on Saving to the Crown by making large abatements, notwithstanding the just and Reasonable Arguments urged in my Reply to Gov: Shirleys Observations, so that you will see the Total Sum adjudged to Rhode Island for the whole Expence of Arming, Cloath" Pay and all amounts to no more than £7507 : 4: 38 which is £2637: 5 : 2} less than I have recª; which last Sum I expect will be deducted out of the £6332. 12. 10 Cape Briton Money when they are pleased to make Payment,2 which I think is very Arbitrary, but I know of no Remedy but Patience; the other Col- onies have Suffered also very largely perticularly in the Connecticutt Acco's they have cutt off one half of the Pay of the Officers and Soldiers for the last 12 months and of their Acco's for Arming and Cloathing abo! £1831 Strs out of £6796. 13. 4 and the Sum of £8825.6 . 6. Str$ for Transports, Billetting and Bounty is all disallowed save about £80 Str$ for a few Particular Articles therein, and as to what Sums are adjustª and brought in, it's expected the House will Soon agree to pretty quickly, but when the Money will be paid is something uncertain: nothing done this Sessions of Parliament relating to Paper Cur- rency and as to the Iron Bill depends in the House
1 The Rhode Island account is enclosed.
2 This was done. See letter of August 10, and the enclosed correspondence between Partridge and the Lords of Trade.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
of Commons,1 I am now apt to think there will be hardly time for its passing there is such Strong Op- position to it from Several Countys in this Kingdom : and the Parliam' to rise, (as they Say) pretty Soon. I am Thy assured Frd RICHP. PARTRIDGE
Since the foregoing the Iron Bill seems likely to & pass.
To The Governour and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Account of Charges in the Intended Canada Expedition.2
Rhode Island
To the Charge of 3 Companys consisting of 100 Men each raised in this Colony for the intended Ex- ped". against Canada from the day of each Offi- cers entering into the Service or private Soldiers Enlistmts commencing in June 1746. to the day of the discharge of the sd 3 Companys on the 31. of Octo! 1747 - - 4081 . 9.3 -
To cloathing of the said Three Companys - - 974. 2.8 To Arms and Amunition for the Said 3 Compa8 - 340. 14. 54 To Provisions for the Sª 3 Companys when they em- barked for Nova Scotia - - - -
684. 6. 4
To the hire of Transpo's taken up to carry the Sd Detachmt to Nova Scotia and for sund'. Dis- burstmts thereon - - - - - - 1339 . 18 . 7
To the Wages of a Doctor for the said 3 Companys 86.13.4
Total paid £7507. 4.33 as per the Lds of Trades Report : Over paid 2637 . 5. 23
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 313, 314. The Act of 1750 for encouraging the importa- tion of pig and bar iron from America prohibited the erection in the colonies of any slitting or rolling mills, plating forges, or steel furnaces. It practically interdicted all production of iron save the raw material, which the London market was unable to absorb. Bishop, History of American Manufactures, I. 491.
2 Enclosed in letter of March 17, 1783.
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Correspondence of the
Endorsed : Acco of the Sums of the Sev! Colonies Expence incurrd in the intende Expedition agst Canada wch were carrd into Parliam! Obtained from the Ho Com®
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND.
LONDON 3d month or May 12th 1750.
To the Gov'. and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island
My last to the Govern' was of the 17th Ist month; 1 Since which I have recd none from Gov. Greene. As to what is due to the Colony on the Ballance of the Cape Breton money I have not been able to get hitherto, tho' frequently Solicited for it, neither is it certain when it will be paid - but yet I have ac- cepted his Bills lately drawn on me which have been presented as I wrote him in my last, some whereof being due are paid, only one of £202. to Darius Sessions which I offered to accept at 3 months and pay the Interest for the time. I dont know but it will be complyed with. I have also accepted one some time since of {200. Payable as I think to Jos : Lee which had not been return'd.
The Parliament was prorogued the 12th Ult. and about 4 days after that, the King set out for Han- nover where he is safe arrived leaving the Affairs of the Kingdom to the Lords Justices as usual, his Speech thou wilt find in the Magazine herewith sent. The acts passed this Sessions relating to the Planta-
1 See the preceding letter.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
tions are the Iron Act1 and one for Encouraging the Growth and Culture of Raw Silck2 - the former of which I also send - and nothing done as to Paper Currency.
The Ministry continues without much alteration, only it is said for Certain that the Duke of Dorset who is at present President of the Council will about Sept' next be appointed Lord Lieut: of Ireland and Some think the Duke of Bedford will be President in his Room and Lord Sandwich Sec! of State: for further News I refer to the Prints, and remain Thy Friend
RP PARTRIDGE
I have sent a Packet for thee with prints to And! Oliver & Co. to be forwarded to thee per a private hand
To The Governour and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island Providence Plantations
THE LORDS OF TRADE TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
WHITEHALL, July 19th 1750.
Gentlemen,
It being in general necessary for His Majesty's Service and for the Benefit of the Plantations, that
1 See note to preceding letter ; also a letter of the Duke of Bedford and one of Thomas Hill, secretary to the Lords of Trade, in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 314.
2 A bill was passed in the sessions of 1750 for the encouragement of silk culture in South Carolina and Georgia, by admitting the colonial product into England duty free.
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Correspondence of the
the Limits or Boundaries of the British Colonies on the Continent of America should be distinctly known, more particularly so far as they border on the Set- tlements made by the French or any foreign nation in America, We desire you to send Us with all posi- ble dispatch the best account you can, of the Bound- aries of His Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island under your Government, together with a Chart or Map thereof, all the best Accounts and Vouchers you can obtain to support the same, and more particularly with relation to any Settlements that may have been made by the English on the Frontiers towards the Lakes and Mountains. We at the same time recom- mend to you to inform Us whether the Subjects of any foreign Prince have made any and what En- croachments on the Colony of Rhode Island under your Government, and at what Period: Nor can you be too exact in stating every particular in the History of whatever Encroachments have been made, which may serve to place the Proceedings in a true light, and confute any Right which may at any time be founded upon them. So We bid you heartily fare- well, and are
Your very loving Friends and humble Servants, DUNK HALIFAX J. GRENVILLE CHARLES TOWNSHEND
Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
..
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR GREENE.
LONDON 6 month or Augst Ioth : 1750
Gov. Greene
My last to thee was of the 9th 4th mo: to which I refer having not Since received any of thy favours, This comes now to acquaint thee that I have at length received the Cape Breton money from the Treasury out of which they stopt what they appre- hended had been over paid in the Canada Expedition money1 agreeable to the Board of Trades Report as I heretofore wrote thee, notwithstanding the Re- monstrances Exhibited : a Copy of which Report 2 at full length I have obtained and send thee here- with which Report the Lords of the Treasury woud not deviate from being bent as it should Seem on Savings to the Crown how reasonable so ever our Representations 3 may have been for which there was no remedy and which was the Case of other Colonys also - and having paid thy Bills on me I herewith also send my accot the Ballance due to the Colony being in which acco! I have charged £300 : as thou wilt see for my Extraordinary Trouble in the Boundary Affair4 for what the Gov! then for the time being gave me Expectation I should be con- sidered in, which I hope the Colony will Judge but reasonable considering the abundance of Trouble I had in it and with what faithfulness I exerted my self.
Inclosed I have remitted thee my Bill of £200 :
1 See letter of March 17, 1750.
3 See the three following documents.
2 Not in the archives.
4 See letter of June 18, 1749.
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Correspondence of the
Sterl: on Jos : Wanton and of £85 on Walter Chal- loner which I doubt not will be complyed with, and are charged in my acco!
To WILLIAM GREEN Esq!
Governour of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.1 To the Lords Comss": for Trade and Plantations.
The humble Representation of Richard Partridge Agent for the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations
In Reply to the Objections of Gov! Shirley to the Said Colonys Accot of the Expence occurr'd in their raising, Subsisting, Arming and Cloathing 300 Men for the intended Expedition against Canada, and after the said Expedition was laid aside, for hire &cª of Transports for carrying them to Annapolis Royal and for the Charge of their Sloop of war for convoying the Same &cª
Obje to the It Article; That the Charge of {1644.5.102 is irregular &cª and altho' charged to the Crown, the people are taxed for it and ought to be disallowed. £1644.5.10
Obje to the 2ª Article; That of the £5484 no more than £2555.8.4 ought to be allowed, because the remainder was
1 Enclosed with letter of August 10, 1750.
2 Colonial currency.
-
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
for beds, Tents, Blankets &cª and is part of those Expences for which the people were taxed, and therefore the said Gov- ernor proposes to abate.
The 3ª Article is allowed.
2928.11. 8
Obj". 4th That of £13722.2.8. for Trans- ports for carrying the Forces to Louis- bourg and Quebeck in Canada, and after- wards when that design was over were employed about carrying them to Annap- olis Royal, so much as this fourth Article as arrises upon the Accot of the Canada Expedition. viz: £5066.14.6 he proposes should be disallowed as an overcharge in the hire of the said Transports, for that says the Governor it was expressly recom- mended by his Majesty to be provided at the Expence of those Govermts &cª and therefore would have abated the said Sum of
Obj: 5th That the Expence of the Tar- ter Sloop of War that Convoyed the said Transports on their Voyage, is a ground- less charge and to be wholly disallowed in as much as it was a Standing Expence to them in Time of War, and which they wou'd have been at, if there had been no Expedition ; and for that also Armed Vessels were recommended by his Ma- jesty to be provided at the Expence of the Colony, and that there was no occasion for a Convoy &cª
5066.14. 6
12674.13. 6
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Correspondence of the
Obj. 6th That out of £2184.1.3 for Ex- pences at Marthas Vineyard its propos'd to be abated £1000 as being Charged without just Foundation
1000.
Obj" 7th That of £2169.16.5 Charged for Physicians, Surgeons and Medicines for the Sick Soldiers, and necessary fu- neral Charges ; because great part ought to have been provided for by Stoppages from the mens pay, as was done by Levys in the Massachusetts Bay: and recom- ended by Govern! Shirley and therefore proposed to abate out of this Article
1485. 6. 5
Obj" 8th The Article for Cloathing al- lowed
9th for Additional Cloathing al- lowed
IOth That this Article for Billet- ting the 3 Companys was recomended by his Majesty to be provided (Says the Gov- ernor) at the Expence of the Colony and Complyed with by them, and that it ap- pears to be done by the Act of Assem- bly : so the Government of Rhode Island ought not to be allowed for it
8984. 8. 1I
IIth That this Article Charged likewise for Billetting of Soldiers to be disallowed for the same Reason 2091.16. 7
Which sum of £35875.17.5 Currency at 750 per C: amots to Ster: £4783.9.0.
£35875.17. 5
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Sterl& advanced
-
N. B. The Sum of £1063.6.8. 1 and 392.7 $ in part of pay, not taken notice of in the Adjustment.
To which Objections the said Agent replys,
As to the Ist - That they are represented as part of those Expences for which the people of the Colony are taxed, - he humbly conceives they are no other- wise taxed than by Emitting paper Bills of Credit, which were to be Called in, paid off, and destroy'd by the said Colony at Certain Periods of Time; but before the Expiration thereof they well hoped to be repaid their Said Expenses by the Crown, with which they would answer that purpose, and which indeed they have already begun to do by an Act passed in the month of Octob! 1748.1 out of the money already paid by the Lords of the Treasury : a Copy of which Act is hereunto annexed and consequently the Tax does not fall on the people.
5th - To the abatements in the 5th Article relating to the Expences charged for their Tartar Sloop of War the Convoy to the Transports -
It is humbly hoped, that will not be judged to have been an unnecessary Expence, in a time of War, but that it would have been looked upon un- safe and imprudent for the Colony to have ventured the sending away of the Transports without Convoy ; That the General Assembly of the said Colony did by their Vote and Resolve on the 24th of Octo! 1746.2 order that an express should be sent to Admiral
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 262, where the act is referred to as having been passed in October, 1748, although no record of it is printed under that session's record.
2 Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 193.
.
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Correspondence of the
Warren and Gov! Shirley, to know what Convoy was to proceed with the said Forces, and ordered their Sloop of War, and Transports to Joyn them; That Admiral Warren happened to be afterwards at Rhode Island when they sailed and its presumed actually agreed and approved of the said Sloop Tartar going as Convoy, she being doubtless fitted out with more Expence for that Voyage than otherwise wou'd have been, and as this was their only Warlike Vessel to protect their Trade, their own Coast was left un- guarded, and their Trade by Sea in the mean time exposed to the Enemy, the said Colony were actu- ally at the Expence charged in their Acco" for the Same and which is Sworn to by the Commissary.
And the said Agent humbly hopes that the said Article will not be disallowed more Especially for that the Undertaking for Succouring Nova Scotia was at the pressing Instances of Gov: Shirley in Conjunction with Admiral Warren, with the latter of whom the Gov! of said Colony was to advise in that respect upon all occasions that might arise, as appears by the order of 3ª Jan! 17431 which the said Gov! recd from the Secrety of State by the Kings Command ; and for that also that the said Gov! rec! a letter dated 14th Octo! 17462 from said Admiral Warren and Governor Shirley, intimating the great Danger that the Fortress of Annapolis Royal and the whole Province of Nova Scotia was in, unless Succours were imeadately sent to them, and that the Preservation of the said Province was of the utmost Consequence for his Majestys Interest &cª
1 Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 132.
2 Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 192.
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1
1
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
and therefore most earnestly urges the Sending for- ward the 300 Rhode Island Forces without loss of time. Which the said Colony in Obedience to the Kings Command and the Order recd from Admiral Warren and Gov! Shirley as aforesaid readily Com- plyed with accordingly.
To the 6th Article out of £2184.1.3 Gov! Shirley proposes an abatemt of £1000, without Giving any other reason for it, than that so much was charged therein ; without just foundation, without pointing out which of the Particulars are wrong charged: it is impossible to answer an objection in such General Terms, and therefore it is hoped will have less weight in the Consideration of it.
To the 7th Article the said Agent apprehends that the Expence was absolutely needfull as the greatest part of it was for the preservation of the Mens lives, with other necessary charges and its Suprizing that such a provision should be objected to, when the money was doubtless all justly expended and paid as Sworn to by the Commissary.
There was all possible care taken in this Article (as the Governor of the said Colony writes) but the Expence was unavoidable, as these Forces were not Regimented, and So no Chiurgeon upon the Kings Establishment, and Sickness rageing very much amongst them ; they at first made use of Doctors occasionally but finding that very Chargable were obliged to Contract with one by the Month, who Continued a whole Year in the Service : the Gov- ernt finding all medicines which are excessive dear in that Country.
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Correspondence of the
To the 4th Ioth and IIth Articles which are princi- pally for Billetting, Maintain! and Supporting the said 300 Men, raised by the said Colony and for the hire of Transports for the Expedition against Canada.
The said Agent replys, That the said Forces were raised persuant to the Royal Instructions of the thing Signified to the Gov. of Rhode Island, by Letter from the Secr! of State dated 9th Ap! 17461 who were thereby directed to Raise as many men as the Shortness of the time wou'd permit; who were to enter imeadately into the Kings pay, and to pro- vide proper Transports for Carrying the said Forces to the place of Rendezvous and provisions for their Subsistance, and to furnish them with Arms, Cloath- ing and other necessarys for the said Expedition, and to provide as many Armed Vessels as could be got to be employed therein.
And as the said Agent has been informed the said Colony has always distinguished it Self by its Loy- alty to the Crown and Zeal for its Service, so in this Affair as Soon as they had received the said Royal Instructions, they imeadately passed an Act the 2ª June 1746.2 for raising 3 Companies of Soldiers of 100 Men each Officers included ; and also for equip- ping, manning, and Victualling the Colonys Sloop of War for the Same Service, and in order the more effectually to answer the Kings Instructions in rais- ing those Forces, they granted a large Bounty of £50 for each able bodyed Man that should enter himself, which bounty was intirely born by the Col- oney and not charged in the Accots (as indeed they
1 In Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 162.
2 Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 172.
1
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
did not expect to be paid for it) But as the forces raised for that Service, were by the Kings express orders and directions to enter immediately into his pay as aforesaid, it seems to be naturaly and Neces- sarily Implied, that he would pay all the Charge ariseing upon the Subsisting and Transporting his own Troops.
When Gov! Shirley and Adm! Warren recd Direc- tions to discharge the Soldiers, they also had Instruc- tions to procure the Acco's from the Several Gov- erm's of the whole Expence incurr'd on Acco! of the American Troops, from the time of their being Levyed, to the time of their discharge: and after their being all adjusted and liquidated to transmitt them to the Secret! of State, with the proper Vouch- ers, to be laid before the Parliam! that Provision might be made for the payment,1 which the said Governor of Rhode Island apprehended to be a demonstration that it was the Kings Intentions that the whole Expence should be paid : If there be any imperfections in the Accounts they may possibly arise in a great measure from their not being ac- quainted with the Manner of Levying Soldiers and Stateing Military Accots in England, and so were forced to take Methods of their own Prescribing, but they hoped that their Zeal for the Kings Ser- vice in this Affair will Attone for Some irregularitys in the Method of proceeding and Stateing their Ac- counts.
That Gov! Shirley must be under a mistake in the 5th and 10th Objections when he alledges, That
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 229.
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Armed Vessels and Billeting the 3 Companys was recommend to be provided at the Expence of the Colonys, for that the words of the Duke of New- Castle's Letter to the said Govern' of Rhode Island of 9th April 1746 are Viz: " You are to recommend it " to the Council and General Assembly, to provide " a Sufficient Number of Transports to Carry the " Troops to be raised in Rhode Island to Louisbourg, " and from thence up the River St Lawrence and a " Sufficient Quantity of Provisions for their Subsist- "ance and also to provide as many armed Vessels as " can be got to Serve in the Expedition, under the " Command of . Rear Adm! Warren; " " 1 Wherein not one word is mentioned that this Charge was to be at the Colonys Expence and therefore the said Colony had just reason to Expect a Reimbursment in due time of the said Expence, as well as to be paid for Army and Cloathing by Lieu: Gen! S: Clair ; more especially now Since the Expedition was laid aside, for can it be rationally imagined that this Small Colony should of themselves bear that heavy burden without a Consideration for it? If the Ex- pedition had gone forward as was intended when Orders were sent over to the Colonys there was a probability of Success in the Designe against Que- beck which being taken and in the hands of the English, would have been some compensation to Rhode Island, for thereby the Indian Natives in the Interest of the French and always our Enemys in a French War would have been deprived of Succour and Assistance with Arms and Ammunition, and
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